Leeds United’s midfield is thin following the injuries to Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev. As a result, various free agents are emerging as potential targets for the Whites to bolster the position, one of which is Josuha Guilavogui.
Joshua Guilavogui spent last season in the Bundesliga playing for Mainz 05, but once his contract expired, the veteran midfielder has remained a free agent. The 34-year-old appeared at Elland Road on Friday night as he watched the win over Sheffield United from the stands.
Where is Leeds United target Joshua Guilavogui from?
The former French international was born to Guinean parents in Ollioules in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of Southeastern France.
Where did he start his career?
Leeds United’s target first entered La Marine Toulon’s youth academy in 1997, then moved to Toulon in 2000 and finally made the switch to Saint-Étienne, where he made his first team debut in 2009.
Breaking through the Saint-Étienne first team
The midfielder established himself as a standout player with Les Verts, making 120 appearances across all competitions, scoring nine goals, and registering seven assists. Moreover, he would win a Coupe de La Ligue with the Ligue 1 side during the 2012-13 season.
Dream La Liga move
Guilavogui switched to La Liga’s Atletico Madrid, winning the league title in the 2013-14 season. However, the entire stint with the Spanish side didn’t go as planned as he only made seven appearances.
Finding himself in the Bundesliga
While Guilavogui’s high-profile move to Atletico Madrid didn’t go as planned, he found a home with VfL Wolfsburg. The midfielder joined the German club on an initial loan that went from 2014 to 2016, but VfL Wolfsburg would secure the player long-term.
The Frenchman would make 265 appearances across all competitions while scoring 12 goals and registering six assists. Guilavogui officially left VfL Wolfsburg in 2023 and last season stayed in the Bundesliga to continue his career.
What now?
Guilavogui brings a wealth of experience and could fill an important role for the Whites in the short term while they wait for key players to return from injury. Although he hasn’t played in England yet, he has competed in the top leagues in France, Spain, and Germany.
